Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Picture signal generator
Reexamination Certificate
1995-10-02
2001-02-06
Nguyen, Madeleine Anh-Vinh (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Picture signal generator
C358S442000, C361S600000, C361S601000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185010
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming system having a copying function, a facsimile function a local printing function, and a network printing function, or the like. The invention is more particularly related to an image forming system which can discharge recording paper having printed images both face-up and face-down and the manner of selecting which tray is used.
2. Discussion of the Background
Conventional multi-functioned image forming apparatuses such as digital copiers having a copying function, a facsimile function, a local printer function, and a network printer function are known. However, in the conventional type of multi-functioned image forming apparatus as described above, recording paper with an image formed thereon is discharged using either a face-up paper discharging mode in which recording paper is discharged with the surface having an image formed thereon kept upward, or a face-down paper discharging mode in which recording paper is discharged with the surface having an image formed thereon kept downward. As only one discharge mode is used, it is necessary for a user to rearrange outputted sheets which have been ejected, depending on the function being performed by the apparatus. This is disadvantageous in terms of convenience and workability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to eliminate the necessity to rearrange outputted sheets of recording paper, regardless of the function being performed by a multi-functioned image forming system. It is a further object of the invention to eliminate the need to rearrange outputted sheets by changing an orientation of discharged recording paper, depending on the source of information to be printed. It is yet another object of the invention to improve the convenience and workability of an image forming system.
These and other objects are accomplished by a novel image forming system in which a printer unit has the capability to discharge paper either facing down or facing up. The multi-functioned image forming system according to the present invention prints images using a facsimile function, a local printer function, a network printer function, or a copying function not using an automatic document feeder for which a control unit selects the face-down paper discharging mode. When an image is formed on recording paper with the copying function using an automatic document feeder, the control unit selects the face-up paper discharging mode or face-down paper discharging mode depending on the type of automatic document feeder being used. This eliminates the need to rearrange outputted sheets of recording paper, regardless of the type of automatic document feeder being used which gives improved convenience and workability.
In the image forming system according to the present invention, the printer unit and the scanner unit are accommodated in different housings. These separate housings allow a first paper discharging tray to be located on a top portion of the housing of the printer unit. There is also a second paper discharging tray located on the side of the housing of the printer unit. This configuration provides a face-up paper discharging device and a face-down paper discharging device which are realized using a simple configuration.
There has been provided a digital copier, as a conventional type of image forming apparatus, wherein, for instance, a scanner unit for optically reading a document image and a printer unit for forming an image on recording paper each are accommodated in different housings respectively, and an operation display section is incorporated in either of the two housings.
With the conventional technology described above, although a scanner unit and a printer unit are accommodated in different housings, an operation display section for displaying an error and status is provided in only one of the two housings. Therefore, when checking the operation display section for error or status information, it is necessary to make sure the information is for the desired housing or unit. Further, if a housing or unit is an object for error or status checking is separated from an operation display section, there has been a problem associated with inconvenience in use thereof.
Also when a scanner unit and a printer unit are accommodated in different housings respectively, a power source unit (PSU) has to be provided in both housings, so that there have been such problems as cost increase for the apparatus and inconvenience of providing a plurality of external power supply units.
Also, a power cable, a cable for connecting a signal cable for communicating video data, and a serial communication cable are each required to connect the scanner unit to the printer unit. Therefore, the connection cabling becomes complicated which makes the system appear cluttered and reduces the appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide easy discrimination of a unit which is an object of error or status checking and to improve the convenience of an image forming system in which a scanner unit and a printer unit are accommodated in different housings.
It is another object of the present invention to avoid a cost increase for a system and inconvenience of providing a plurality of external power supply units in the image forming system in which a scanner unit and a printer unit are accommodated in different housings.
It is a further object of the present invention to connect easily a scanner unit to a printer unit having different housings and provide a connection therebetween having a better appearance.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a user interface on a scanner unit which used with both the scanner unit and the printer unit and displays information of both the scanner unit and printer unit.
The image forming system of the present invention is a system in which a printer unit and a scanner unit are accommodated in different housings. In the system, the scanner unit displays error and status information of the printer unit so that a user can learn a state of the entire image forming system by only checking the scanner unit.
Also in the image forming system of the present invention, a display for displaying an error in and status of the printer unit is provided in the printer unit so that an error in and status of the printer unit can be studied by viewing the printer unit, thus allowing an error or status to be easily determined and to improve the convenience thereof.
Also in the image forming system of the present invention, an operation display for controlling the operation of the printer unit is provided in the scanner unit so that the operation and input of the entire image forming system can be executed by the operation display located in the scanner unit, and convenience thereof can be improved.
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Japanese language News Release of Fuji Xerox Able Series, “New Able Series” Apr. 27, 1996, pp. 1-7 (with partial English translation).
Demonstration in Japan of Fuj
Nguyen Madeleine Anh-Vinh
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Ricoh & Company, Ltd.
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